summer! & place value update!

I know many of you are getting ready to go back to school, but I have just finished school 2 weeks ago, so I am finally getting to rest and relax! 

Here's what I'm up to...I would love to hear what you did this summer!!!

1. Museums

 2. Parks

3. Cooking

 4. Bible study & Book study

 5. Anything! 
Thank you letters, teaching resources, skype with family and friends, coffee with friends

Finally finished this!!!

So tell me about your summer!

Oh and did you see this?

Kelli xx

sweet award

Thank you so much to Becky at Musings from the Foreign Teacher, and Michelle at Big Time Literacy, for nominating me for the Liebster award!! I am so happy to be recognized (especially since I feel like I've been away from blogging forever!)

To accept the nomination I must:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about myself.
5. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
6. Contact my nominees and let them know I nominated them.

OK, I will probably just pick a few questions from each person so it's not too many for you to read. 

Becky's Questions:

1. Why did you get into teaching? I got into teaching because a) I had an awesome time in school myself. Loved the structure, loved the specials, loved the social time. Love. b) I'd rather hang out with kids than adults. I am quite a big kid myself.

fond memories of listening to the librarian

2. What is your favourite age to teach? Why? Oohh. Tough question. I've spent a lot of time in kindergarten and first grade, but in the last couple years I've stretched myself with fourth and fifth grade. I'm pretty smitten with uppergrade now. But I still love K-2 as well.

3. What was your favourite subject in school? Spelling! Man I could spell! Science was my worst.

4. What type of music do you like? Lots! Temper Trap, Gotye, Rhianna, Coldplay, Regina Spektor. All over the place.

5. What is your most annoying habit? I put things off. Then I feel like everything comes at once. But really I should prioritize better.

6. What is your favourite word? Right now it's Muggins. This comes from a (not-so-nice) British word 'mug' as in stupid or gulliable (example: 'Don't be such a mug!' Or,' You're muggin' me off in front of my mates!'). Anyway, my husband and I think it's funny and we say Muggins as a nicer way of using it in public and we work it into any sentence. Silly. (have you heard this word Becky?)

 

Michelle's Questions:

1. When did you know you wanted to be a teacher? Probably in high school when I worked in a daycare. It felt very natural.

2. How long have you been teaching? I've lost count with all my moving around. 11 years I think. Can't believe it!

3. What subjects/grades have you taught? What is your current position? I've taught (through a variety of full year contracts or maternity covers), K-6, 3-5 gifted, Reading Specialist (Literacy Lab) and a New Arrivals Programme (English and Math to refugees and immigrants to Australia). The last was my absolute favorite.

English Language School in Australia

4. What is your biggest accomplishment as a teacher? Creating a safe, fun, positive atmosphere in the classroom (I try anyway!)

5. Any special summer break plans? Make the most of London! Museums, parks, beach. And rest.

 

Natural History Museum in London

6. What is your secret super power? I have endless enthusiasm/energy when I teach lessons, regardless of how tired I am. 

 

Random Facts (I'll keep it short as I feel I've made this really long):

*I have to work SUPER hard at all things technological. It is all very foreign to me.

*I don't like scary movies. At all.

*My husband and I got married in a hotel in Wimbledon.

*I don't watch sports (except the Olympics) which is surprising as I grew up playing sports! I don't mind rugby though.

*I love hot chai tea lattes. Yum. 

 

 Blogs I nominate and love:

Ladybug's Teacher Files

Fifth in the Middle

Rambling About Reading 

Young Teacher Love 

Finding JOY in 6th Grade 

 

 

Off to bed!!

Kelli xx 

Birthday SALE!!

 Hope you're having a great day!!! A sale in honor of my birthday!! Click here for the sale!

Remember, you're only as old as you feel! Be silly and have some fun today!

Kelli xx

Kdg Counting and Cardinality: Part 2!!

I am relaxed already on day 2 of summer break!! Hope you're enjoying your summer!

I have finished Part 2 of my K.CC for math journals pack (K.CC.4/5/6/7)...take a look if you enjoy using journals in your class!

School year of firsts!

I made it!!! Last day of school! 

In some ways it was super easy (the kids), and in other ways it was a lot of work (new curriculum). There were a lot of FIRSTS!

  
What will I do first tomorrow??? I'm thinking London Science Museum or book in the park! So excited for the summer!

K xx

Been awhile....school almost finished!!!!

Wow!!!!!!! I've totally neglected my blog in the last couple months. It's good to be back. How have you been? What have I missed? What's bloglovin? I've seen this mentioned but not sure what it is.

Anyway, I have 2 and a half days left of school!!! British school year: Sept-July...can't wait to start living again. I have barely been existing since I returned from my trip 3 weeks ago. I feel like the worst wife, daughter, sister and friend ever. Lucky students seem to get everything I've got and then I go home and collapse. Big play production? Check. Parent conferences? Check. School carnival? Check. Prize giving ceremony tomorrow night and Year Six Leaver's BBQ Tuesday night then finished Wednesday!! I can almost touch it!!

Just finishing a gift for the class:

Anyway here's some photos from trip to see family in Illinois and relaxing time in Florida. There's also a sneak peek at a K.CC journal printables pack I'm working on (can't wait to get back into creating!)

Can't wait to catch up with everyone's blogs this week!! 

K xx

 

 

The latest journal pack (picture the pages on the left and middle to be a foldable type):

Have a good one!!

Spelling Ideas Part 1

Most of you are probably days/weeks away from the school year finishing-SO EXCITED for you! Not because teaching isn't great, but come on-the renewal from the summer is so necessary. 

Schools over here go into July, but lucky for me I had a pre-arranged vacation to the States (Illinois to see family and Florida to a beach condo!) from late May to mid June before the school asked me to finish out the school year. Fortunately one of the weeks falls over a half term holiday here (1 week)...but still it's strange to get my cover plans together. CAN'T WAIT! 

So, in the thick of the BIG Year 6 play production rehearsals, honing in on my Year 5's English levels before they take their secondary exams in the fall, and trying to get back to the gym-it's a BUSY time once again!

I'm really excited to get through it all and enjoy next year a lot more (due to the organization and work I've put in this year). New jobs are exhausting, but rewarding right?

Among other things, currently I'm trying to make some gains in spelling for my struggling spellers. I've been reading this book,

and picked up a few valuable tips.

*Ask children why spelling is important. Many will say 'to pass a spelling test' or 'get a good grade' (yikes! Discussion quick!).

*When children have an audience for their writing, they have a reason for learning about spelling and for doing the best they can.

*It's helpful to look for patterns that emerge in the type of errors students make so you know what to focus your teaching on for individual needs.

*Spelling tests: competent spellers use many strategies to try unfamiliar words and to learn words. The emphasis needs to be on children's learning these strategies rather than getting a list of words to be learned by rote. 

Anyway, these are just a few wonderful reminders from the first 2 chapters. I'm excited about the possible changes I can propose to the staff next year as English Coordinator. 

Although spelling is a small component of English/Literacy, when there are big gaps or poor instruction...it can become a BIG component that affects other areas-don't you think?

Can't wait to tell you about a resource I hope to use with second grade and up next year to support spelling and improve vocabulary!!  (Hint: Personal Dictionaries with a twist!)

I will leave you will this because I just LOVED it!!! Click on the picture!

Have a good one!